Karim Benzema hits back at French PM Valls

French striker Karim Benzema has hit back following his country's Prime Minister Manuel Valls' criticism of his ethical respect

Paris: French striker Karim Benzema has hit back following his country's Prime Minister Manuel Valls' criticism of his ethical respect.

Karim Benzema

"I'm not the French Football Federation's president or Didier Deschamps, but I think there are no grounds for Benzema to come into the France team. He's still under investigation," said Valls.

Benzema was just lifted legal restrictions over his alleged involvement in national team-mate Mathieu Valbuena's sex-tape case, paving the way for the Real Madrid forward to play for the French national team.

His lawyer Sylvain Cormier described Friday's decision as "a first step" before they proved the 28-year-old footballer is innocent.

Frustrated by these comments, Benzema wrote on his official Twitter account on Tuesday: "Twelve seasons as a professional: 541 matches played, 0 red cards, 11 yellow cards!!! And some people talk about my exemplariness???"